Conclusion:

Unlike most of the shooters available these days, "Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway" is a game that has a compelling story to tell and it brilliantly succeeds in extracting an astonishing amount out of it. While Arnhem remained a "bridge too far" for the allied troops, the dedication and relentless efforts of the soldiers involved in each mission that was supposed to converge to the ultimate goal outweighs the breakdown. Likewise, with all those drawbacks caused by the relatively weak AI, this title is definitely a new milestone for WW2 shooters and a worthy addition for the "Brothers in Arms" franchise.

Gameplay: 84

Without the boost of a consistent multiplayer mode, the campaign set is pretty much everything in "Hell's Highway" and luckily it compensates for the less exciting co-op mode. The entire game is being driven by a rock-solid storyline and firm game mechanics, so completing the single player missions and unlocking the authentic mode is very rewarding. Occasional AI issues have a deterring effect even on the more dedicated gamers but are not enough to ruin the mood or the genuine enthusiast that this shooter generates.

Graphics: 81

Overall the visual effects are above the average, and for those willing to take a better look at the big picture instead of focusing on details, the shortcomings are minimal and will be easily dismissed. The slow motion replays of a head shot or the devastating grenade explosions are quite impressive as well as the landscapes, while some textures and the grain filter are less inspiring. The characters' faces have unnatural colors and are more rugged than you'd expect even from a soldier that spends half of his time in the trenches.

Sounds: 85

The cut-scenes and the short movies that are plentiful in the campaign set would feel less charming and definitely less majestic without the enthralling music themes that punctuate the dramatic moments. While the comments and dialogues between soldiers are as good as in any story-driven game, the music is nothing less of astonishing, and the orchestral parts greatly enhance the gaming experience by helping the player get into the right mood.

Multiplayer: 73

"Capture the Flag" is the only multiplayer mode available and although it is possible for up to 20 players to join the fight, it feels rather boring and less exciting than a single player mission. There is of course a squad leader who can issue orders but it's pretty unlikely the others will obey them, especially when this mode is played over the internet between total strangers.

Hardware: 79

The frame rate drops frequently below the desired value even on the more powerful computers, but the game runs well and because tactics are the cornerstone of this shooter, not the fast-paced action, it's most likely there will be no reasons for complain.